Wingate Anaerobic Test Calculator (Peak Power, Mean Power, Fatigue Index)
Score a 30-second Wingate anaerobic cycle test: enter body mass, flywheel load and pedal revolutions per 5 s to get peak power, mean power, W/kg, fatigue index and total work.
How it works
Power (W) = load (kg) × 9.80665 × 6 m × revolutions ÷ 5 s · peak = highest 5-s power · mean = average of the six intervals · fatigue index = (peak − minimum) ÷ peak × 100 · total work = mean power × 30 s
The Wingate anaerobic test (Wingate Institute, Israel, 1970s) is an all-out 30-second sprint on a cycle ergometer against a fixed resistance, usually 0.075 kg per kg of body mass on a Monark bike, where one pedal revolution moves the flywheel rim 6 m. Peak power in the first 5–10 seconds reflects the phosphagen system and leg power, mean power over 30 seconds reflects anaerobic capacity, and the fatigue index shows how much power drops. Revolutions are counted per 5-second interval by the ergometer software or by hand.
Worked example
A 75 kg athlete with a 5.6 kg load pedals 11, 10.5, 9.5, 8.5, 7.5 and 6.5 revolutions. Peak power = 5.6 × 9.80665 × 6 × 11 ÷ 5 = 725 W (9.67 W/kg); mean power = 588 W (7.83 W/kg); the lowest interval is 428 W, so fatigue index = (725 − 428) ÷ 725 = 40.9%. Total work is 17.6 kJ.
Sources: Bar-Or O (1987) The Wingate anaerobic test: an update on methodology, reliability and validity. Sports Med 4:381–394 · Topend Sports — Wingate anaerobic test
Frequently asked questions
What load should I use for the Wingate test?
The classic load is 0.075 kg per kg body mass (7.5% of body weight) for adults on a Monark ergometer. Trained power athletes often use 0.09–0.10 kg/kg, and children or older adults a lighter load. Keep the same load for repeat tests.
What is a good Wingate peak power?
Recreationally active young men typically reach about 9–11 W/kg and women about 7.5–9 W/kg; elite sprinters and track cyclists can exceed 14 W/kg. Mean power is usually about 75–85% of peak.
What does the fatigue index mean?
It is the percentage drop from peak to lowest 5-second power. Sprint-trained athletes often show a large drop (40–60%) because their peak is very high, while endurance athletes show a smaller drop with a lower peak.
Can I use this with an electronic ergometer?
Yes, if you can read revolutions per 5 seconds and the resistance in kg (or kp). Ergometers with a different distance per revolution need that value instead of 6 m — on those, use the power figures the software reports.
Related calculators
This calculator gives an estimate for general fitness and education only. It is not a diagnosis — field tests and prediction equations can differ from laboratory measurements, so talk to a doctor or qualified exercise professional before acting on the result, especially before maximal testing.